J'AIME May 2018

M AY 2 0 1 8
J’AIME
Y O U R L O C A L L U X U R Y L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E
Spring style solutions
for home and garden
WIN
TICKETS TO
BIRMINGHAM’S
SUMMER BBC
GOOD FOOD
SHOW
Work from home:
creating a stylish
office space
POTTERY PERFECTION
FROM A LICHFIELD
CERAMIC DESIGNER

Welcome to J’AIME
The sun is shining at J’AIME HQ, and
we’re getting into the summer spirit with a
feast of fantastic features to get you ready
for the season ahead. Whether is dining
inspiration, a wardrobe update or ideas to
revamp your home and garden, J’AIME has
it covered.
This month we chat to a duo of Alrewas
entrepreneurs whose innovative simulator
technology is a game-changer for
motorsports gaming enthusiasts - and you
could win a gaming experience at their
showroom.
We also catch up with talented Lichfield
potter Carla Murdoch who, when she’s not
teaching students at Lichfield college, creates
contemporary crafts from her home studio.
We’ve headed off the beaten path this month
to discover a gem of a dining destination
pub on the edge of the Peak District - it’s
worth the trip, we promise! Elsewhere, as
BBc Good Food Show and Gardeners’
World Live get set to return to the NEC this
summer, we’ve got five pairs of tickets up
for grabs. Catch the likes of Michel Roux Jr,
Tom Kerridge and Alan Titchmarsh over
four packed days - it’s the perfect day out for
foodies and garden enthusiasts alike.
Our wine expert showcases some Italian
whites which may have you putting down the
pinot grigio and reaching for something new,
and we’ve also got recipe and cocktail ideas
for you to try at home.
Congratulations are in order for our latest
winner; Malcolm Cureton of Lichfield
scooped a year of music lessons courtesy of
Partridge Brothers Music Centre at Heart of
the Country, Swinfen.
EDITOR: AMY NORBURY
EDITOR@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM
ADVERTISING: JAN ASHLEY
ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM
07388 335 931
DESIGN: DESIGN@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM
CONTRIBUTORS: MARTIN PLOWMAN,
HARRIET LOVATT, EMMA STONE, LISA PIDDINGTON,
JILL HARTLEY, MICHAEL BALLANCE
J’AIME IS PUBLISHED BY ASHBURY
PUBLICATIONS LIMITED AND PRINTED
BY KEP LIMITED, TAMWORTH.
Check us out online at:
WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM
Find us on
/JAIMEMAGAZINE
@JAIMEMAGAZINE
@JAIMEMAGAZINE
3

CONTENTS
InsideJ’aime this month...
6 Carla Murdoch - Creative ceramics from a
Lichfield designer-maker
12 Property - Property of the month
14 Interiors - Home office style
18 Interiors - Go green
22 Gardens - Creating an outdoor sanctuary
26 Competition - Win tickets to the summer BBC Good
Food Show and Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC
30 Food and drink - Reviewing The
Duncombe Arms
32 Food and drink - A mouth-watering recipe to try
at home
34 Food and drink - Cocktail of the month from
Le Rêve
36 Food and drink - Trying a different Italian white
40 Food and drink - Cafe International brings
street food galore to Lichfield
44 Travel - A Dalmatian discovery
48 Competition - Win a motorsport gaming
experience with Alrewas-based Symdeck
52 What’s On - Our pick of events around our
area this month
56 What’s On - The hottest tickets around
Birmingham
58 Fashion - Denim revisited
60 Fashion - Nero e Bianco put their best foot
forward
63 Beauty - Skincare saviours from Harvey
Nichols Birmingham
64 In the news - Say ‘I do’ to dance ; and a
charity donation
65 Motors - Tamworth racing driver Martin
Plowman looks at an innovative charity
4

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FEATURE
Pottery perfection
LICHFIELD DESIGNER-MAKER CARLA MURDOCH’S PASSION FOR POTTERY SEES HER CREATE
STYLISH, CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS - AS WELL AS SHARE HER SKILLS WITH OTHERS.
AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS MORE
CONTEMPORARY TABLEWARE IS
CARLA’S SPECIAITY
The instant Carla Murdoch got her hands on her
first lump of clay, she was smitten. As a teenager
studying A Levels in her native Sheffield, Carla took
the bold decision to ditch traditional academics in
favour of more creative pursuits. And that step has
paid off in spades.
Today, Carla is passing on her love of all things
ceramics to groups of students, teaching pottery and
sculpture at South Staffordshire College’s Lichfield
campus. And when she’s not in the classroom, Carla
can be found creating her own brand of stylish,
contemporary ceramics from her studio at the
Burntwood home she shares with her partner Pete,
an interior designer, house bunny Florence and ducks
Henrietta and Ferdinand.
The garage workshop houses Carla’s precious kiln,
where her creations are transformed from raw clay
into beautifully fired and glazed pieces. Shelves are
adorned with pottery in each stage of the making
process; clay drying out ready for the kiln, items
which have gone through the first - or biscuit - firing
and, finally, all glazed and finished.
A sunny conservatory provides a second workspace,
which is home to Carla’s potters wheel and which
also showcases a variety of her makes. Something of
a pottery magpie, Carla also collects other potters’
work, proudly displaying her own pieces alongside
works from her favourite makers.
“I’ve got boxes of it dotted around the house too,”
laughs Carla, who’s a member of the Midlands
Potters’ Association. “There’s a lot going on at the
moment.”
A whirlwind of creative flair, Carla always knew she
was destined for an artistic career, although her first
foray was not pottery, but graphics.
“I was studying graphics, psychology and biology
at sixth form - a real random mix - and I just didn’t
enjoy it,” the 30-year-old explains.
“I needed to be doing something completely creative;
as much as I love science, and psychology interests
6

me, I just can’t apply it academically.”
So two weeks before she was due to return to sixth
form, Carla headed down to her local college to
see what was on offer. She signed up for a graphics
course, which also included tasters of other
disciplines, including fashion, textiles, woodwork
and - fatefully - pottery.
“About eight weeks into the course we did pottery;
I touched it and that was it, I loved it,” says Carla.
“My tutor was fabulous; she was absolutely
crackers - most potters tend to be a bit loopy. She
encouraged me to apply for a university course,
which is something I’d never considered.”
Carla’s undeniable talent saw her beat off some
500 applicants to land one of just 12 places on a
glass and ceramics degree course at the University
of Sunderland.
“It was meant to be,” says Carla. “I do believe in
fate; I don’t tend to plan too much, I prefer to let
things happen.”
By the time her course had finished, Carla was
hooked. She bought a kiln and set up a small studio
at her parents’ home in Sheffield, making “lots of
porcelain bits and pieces” and connecting with other
local makers.
But six years ago, after a stint travelling, Carla made
the move from Sheffield to Burntwood to be with
Pete and took on an admin job which zapped her of
all her creativity.
CARLA’S STUDIO SPACE
“I just wasn’t making,” says Carla. “Other than for
friends’ birthdays and Christmas decorations, I had
no inspiration and I couldn’t get myself back into it.”
As an attempt to get the creative juices flowing, Carla
signed up to an evening course at Lichfield college -
the very same course she now teaches.
But her making block didn’t seem to shift and, during
a period where she had completely had enough,
Carla sold her potters wheel. But that niggly feeling
that pottery was her true calling wouldn’t leave. On a
trip to Scandinavia with Pete, Carla was enamoured
by the abundance of stylish ceramics and returned
home with renewed enthusiasm.
She decided to sign back up to the college course
but was told it would be starting late because they
didn’t have a tutor available. It was Carla’s lightbulb
moment.
“I thought that maybe I could apply for the teaching
role,” she says. “When I went online I discovered I
didn’t have a qualification they were asking for but
there was also a technician role so I went for that. I
also asked to apply for the teaching role anyway but
never received the application form.
“I got an interview straight away and they asked
me why I hadn’t applied for the teaching role and
wanted to interview me for it too. I ended up getting
both jobs.”
While her teaching and technician jobs make up
a full-time role during term time, Carla has found
herself fully reinvigorated creatively.
“Since then I’ve got back into it, and now I can’t
stop,” says Carla. “I’ve had to go back and re-teach
myself certain aspects like learning the wheel again.
I wasn’t great on it anyway because I didn’t focus on
7

TOOLS OF THE TRADE
it at uni, I did more slip-casting, so I’ve had to selfteach
so I can then teach my students.
“I have all kinds of people coming through my
classes; they’re aged from 20 to 95! And everyone
has a different reason for being there. I’ve got people
who’ve been coming for 30-plus years so it’s just part
of their everyday routine, and there’s a group of
ladies who come along on a Wednesday afternoon
really to socialise. They make fabulous things and
they’ve got such good skills, but since they’re all
retired it’s more about keeping the brain switched on
and keeping in touch with the community.
“My Wednesday classes don’t involve much teaching;
I’m more of a facilitator and the students come in to
use the space and just get on with what they want to
do. They may ask me a few technical questions but
they really know what they’re doing.
“A lot of people have joined up to class because a
few other colleges locally have stopped doing pottery
classes, which is a huge shame. We’re now one of the
few local colleges which offer pottery. I have 80 to 90
students a week, so it’s a task keeping track of where
everyone is and what everyone’s doing.
“It’s also a very physical job. You’re carrying bags
of clay and buckets of clay around, and then there’s
the wedging (which is working the clay to remove air
pockets before you can use it) and working on the
wheel - it’s all great exercise.”
Carla has also seen a spike in students in the wake of
popular BBC show The Great Pottery Throwdown.
Hosted by Sara Cox and with master
potters Kate Malone and Keith Brymer
Jones as judges, the show was filmed at
Stoke-on-Trent’s Middleport Pottery
and became a surprise hit.
“The only thing that annoys me about
the Throwdown is that it gives people
such an unrealistic expectation of what
can be achieved in a two-and-a-half
hour class,” says Carla, who confesses
she never watched the show herself.
“You see people on the show rolling out
their pieces, which might only take ten
minutes, but then they have to leave
them to dry for three hours before they
come back to work on them for another
two or so hours.
“In class, people have to remember
that they won’t be coming back until
next week so I have to tailor people’s
expectations of what they can actually
do within our class timeframe.”
Patience, says Carla, is the key to
learning pottery skills. Her courses focus on the
simpler process of hand-building to start, before
students are let loose on the wheel to hone their
throwing skills.
“At least with the hand-building, people have
something tangible to take home,” says Carla.
“When they’re on the wheel, it can all go wrong in
seconds. With hand-building you have much more
control.
“And people wonder why they don’t ‘get’ the wheel
straight away; throwing is an incredibly difficult skill
and it takes a lot of time and practice to get it right.”
8

CARLA - WITH THE HELP OF BUNNY
FLORENCE -SHOWCASES A RANGE OF
HER DESIGNS
Carla’s wheel is her pride and joy, and her current
creations focus on throwing, rather than handbuilding.
“I’m mainly wheel-based at the moment; it’s a skill I
want to work on, and I want to be able to throw big,”
says Carla. “I’ve been building up my size, so I’m at
around five to six pounds of clay on the wheel at the
moment, and it’s very hard to work that much clay.
“On the wheel I like to make the functional stuff like
the tableware. I love food; I live to eat and I like to
incorporate the two with some nice food in a nice
bowl - it makes your food taste better!
“Plates are so hard though, that’s the
one thing I’m still trying to master and I
won’t let it defeat me! There’s one potter I
follow on Instagram who has been doing
it for three or four years and is only just
starting to sell plates.
“They take up so much space in the kiln;
they take up a whole shelf so you can’t
get anything else dotted around them.
And I go up to quite a high temperature
so if your base isn’t quite right you get a
wobbly plate which warps, or sometimes
they even just tear in the middle.
“They crack when they’re drying before
you’ve even put them in the kiln, they
crack in the biscuit firing and then they
can crack in the final firing. So until the
final piece comes out I never get too
excited!”
As well as being a rather therapeutic pursuit,
pottery can be highly emotive, explains
Carla.
“Potters often meditate before they get on
the wheel, especially in Asia,” she says. “I
don’t meditate myself but sometimes when
I’ve been at work under niggly bright lights
all day I get headaches, or if I’m not feeling
100 per cent I just can’t be on the wheel. It
just doesn’t happen. If I’m not in the first
frame of mind or in a positive mood it’s
a disaster. So that’s when I do my coiling
instead, which I can do no problem. But
when I’m in a good frame of mind I can’t
do coiling, I need to be on the wheel, so it’s
a good balance.”
Pottery has helped Carla to develop a thick
skin and a resilience when it comes to things
not going to plan.
“There’s so much failure,” she laughs. “I’m
at a point that I can put a firing on and if it
goes wrong and doesn’t come out properly
it doesn’t matter. Things might break in the kiln, or
when you glaze things if you haven’t tested the glazes
properly they might be a disaster.
“It’s all a process. If it does work you learn things
from it, and if it doesn’t work again you learn things
from it, perhaps to try a different temperature or to
cool it down slower. It is just one big learning curve,
and even as a teacher and professional maker I’m still
always learning.”
9

The latest project has involved testing different glazes
which, Carla says, appeals to her scientific side.
“I’ve got one base glaze which is very reliable and
you add a few different oxides to it and it comes out
nicely. But if you get a weight slightly wrong it will
come out differently, or if you dip the brush in the
wrong oxide it will change that glaze,” she explains.
“And glazes turn out completely differently on
different clays too.
“I just did some testing and I’ve managed to get
pinks and purples, which I don’t want - I was hoping
for turquoise! I used cobalts and coppers in there,
so the green and the blue together should’ve made
a really nice turquoise but because I’ve used a
dolomite-based glaze, cobalt goes purple or pink in
it. So I’m back to square one.
“I do my glaze testing on a very small scale to start
with so if it goes wrong I’m not wasting too much,
then if it works I do it on a bigger scale. It’s all a
science, which I really love. I get to be a scientist and
be creative; the two come together.”
Carla is currently making stock for her next craft fair,
the inaugural Hepworth Wakefield Contemporary
Ceramics Fair in her native Yorkshire which runs
from May 5 to 6. And closer to home, she will be
running a pop-up shop at Bore Street Bakery on July
7 with fellow Lichfield designer-maker Katie Figiel
of Copper and Solder to coincide with the Lichfield
Festival.
And you may have already spotted some of Carla’s
wares around the city; she was commissioned by
coffee shop Melbourne in Lichfield to create a range
of 12oz coffee cups.
“It was a good thing for me because I’ve never
thrown with such a requirement; I usually just get
on the wheel and see where it takes me and what
I can do,” explains Carla. “But this made me be
able to repetitive throw and get a specific size from
something which shrinks as it dries,
shrinks in the first firing and shrinks in
the glaze firing.
“It was a total challenge - but in a good
way. And it’s nice to see the people of
Lichfield drinking from the cups I’ve
made.”
Bore Street Bakery already use some of
Carla’s pieces to showcase their baked
goodies, and she is currently working with
Lichfield chef Liam Dillon to potentially
provide items for The Boat Inn.
“It’s so lovely to be a part of the Lichfield
community. There’s a real creative,
foodie hub in the city now, which is really
exciting.”
For more details visit
Carla’s website at www.
carlamurdochceramics.co.uk or
find Carla Murdoch Ceramics on
Instagram.
10

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PROPERTY
Property of the Month
WE TAKE A SNEAKY PEEK AT SOME OF THE HOTTEST PROPERTIES ON THE MARKET IN
THE AREA EACH MONTH. THIS MONTH’S SELECTION IS A COUNTRYSIDE HOME WHERE
PERIOD FEATURES MEET CONTEMPORARY STYLE
Park Cottage, Drayton Lane, Drayton Bassett: £1,450,000
On the market with Hunters: 0121 355 0555
THE AGENT SAYS: Park Cottage occupies a truly
delightful location in a mature parkland setting adjacent to
Drayton Park Golf Club and is approached from Drayton
Lane via a long private driveway situated to the right of the
church near to Heathley Lane.
Originally a game keeper’s cottage and forming part of
the Peel Estate the property has, in recent years, undergone
an extensive remodelling programme with sympathetic
additions. Very impressive in appearance with most attractive
and distinctive elevations, the property enjoys a delightful
mature woodland setting standing in landscaped grounds
with sweeping gravel driveway and electric gated entrance.
Refurbished to an exceptionally high specification, the
interior successfully blends modern luxury alongside many
original features boasting a wealth of unique and thoughtfully
designed characteristics exceeding expectations in a property
of this period.
The kitchen oozes contemporary style, with an extensive
range of units with Corian work surfaces and integrated
Siemens appliances, underfloor heating and bi-fold doors
opening onto the terrace.
With several reception rooms, six bedrooms and five ensuites,
plus a master bathroom, set over three floors, there is
ample space for family life.
Outside, an elevated granite paved patio and large
entertaining area with covered outdoor kitchen provides the
ideal space for entertaining.
W E L O V E : THE WONDERFUL BLEND
OF CONTEMPORARY AND
PERIOD STYLE
12

INTERIORS
HOUSE BY JOHN LEWIS LEANING DESK,
£199. WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM
Work
it out
WITH more and more people working from home as
self-employment and flexible working remains on the
rise, the demand for a carefully designed office space
has never been higher. But forget boring desks in plain
box rooms; today’s home offices are more homely and
stylish, and much less formal while retaining optimal
functionality.
The centrepiece to any good home office is, of course,
the desk. With ergonomically designed desks available
to fit even the smallest workspace, you can be sure of a
practical, stylish and comfortable working environment.
Add a comfy, supportive chair and plenty of clever
storage solutions to ensure everything is organised and
accessible.
A room that’s appropriately lit has a way of reducing
stress so it’s essential that your office space has good
lighting. Make good use of desk or task lighting to
complement your main light, or to add a boost to the
natural light in your space without being too bright or
overpowering.
£72
£60
ANGLEPOISE PAUL SMITH
TYPE 75 MINI DESK LAMP,
AMARA. WWW.AMARA.COM
£145
MASTER EDWARD WALL
CLOCK, NEWGATE.
WWW.NEWGATECLOCKS.COM
BRASS PENCIL HOLDER,
FERM LIVING AT AMARA.
WWW.AMARA.COM
£37.50
LARGE CONCRETE DESKTOP
PLANTER, FARLO.IO.
WWW.FARLO.IO
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£39.99
PERSONALISED CUBIST DESK DISPLAY,
WWW.GETTINGPERSONAL.CO.UK
£245
NEWBURY LEATHER CARVER
CHAIR, PEPPERMILL INTERIORS,
BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK.
WWW.PEPPERMILLINTERIORS.COM
BIGSO MAGNUS GREY DESKTOP
DRAWER, PAPERCHASE.
WWW.PAPERCHASE.CO.UK
£27
£5
£149
GEORGE HOME HOUSE
BLOCK CALENDAR, ASDA.
WWW.ASDA.COM
£40
MARBLE DESK CLOCK,
OLIVER BONAS.
WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM
£55
CULT DESIGN MODA VELVET
CHAIR, CULT FURNITURE.
WWW.CULTFURNITURE.COM
TOM DIXON CUBE
STAPLER,
WWW.NEST.CO.UK
HAIRPIN DESK, £180, FARLO.IO.
WWW.FARLO.IO
RIGBY AND MAC YELLOW
FLOOR LAMP, £145, FARLO.IO.
WWW.FARLO.IO

CLARION DESK, £1,775, CHAPLINS
FURNITURE. WWW.CHAPLINS.CO.UK
COPPER TRELLIS WALL GRID, £42.30,
RED CANDY. WWW.REDCANDY.CO.UK
J’AIME
LO VES
BLOOMINGVILLE BILLIE RETRO TABLE
LAMP, £117.50, BEAUMONDE.
WWW.BEAUMONDE.CO.UK

I N T E R I O R S
Greener
pastures
ALREADY this year has been awash with a rich array
of bold colours to transform your interior space. But as
spring arrives with full force and our love affair with all
things botanical and tropical reaches its peak, it’s green
which really stands out as the colour to incorporate for
2018.
From the vibrant jewel tones of emerald and jade to
refreshing sage and mint, as well as dark and moody
forest, this summer, it’s all about going green. When
it comes to pattern, we will see a focus on prints with
dark, jungle-esque backgrounds, and leaf prints in
their true, deep green colours.
A palette of different greens works harmoniously to
create a dynamic colour scheme, so don’t be afraid
to mix and match your hues. Go soft and soothing
on walls and fabrics, and add dramatic vibrance with
accessories.
Green upholstery is also set to become a key trend,
particularly plush velvet in eye-catching shades of
forest green, pine and emerald, so if you want to make
a statement, opt for a standout furniture piece in a
bold hue - a perfect pop against a backdrop of crisp,
fresh whites.
BETTY ARMCHAIR IN OLIVE PURE COTTON
MATT VELVET, £590, WWW.SOFA.COM
BRICK LANE ALARM CLOCK, NEWGATE.
WWW.NEWGATECLOCKS.COM
£13.50
£75
VINTAGE STYLE JUG, THE
CONTEMPORARY HOME.
WWW.TCH.NET
A BY AMARA WIDE BASE ROPE
LANTERN, WWW.AMARA.COM
£22
18

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䤀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 猀
一 攀 眀 ☀ 嘀 椀 渀 琀 愀 最 攀 䘀 甀 爀 渀 椀 琀 甀 爀 攀 昀 漀 爀 䠀 漀 洀 攀 猀 Ⰰ 䈀 愀 爀 猀 ☀ 刀 攀 猀 琀 愀 甀 爀 愀 渀 琀 猀
嘀 椀 猀 椀 琀 漀 甀 爀 猀 栀 漀 眀 爀 漀 漀 洀 椀 渀 䈀 甀 爀 渀 琀 眀 漀 漀 搀 ℀ 圀 攀 ᤠ 爀 攀 漀 瀀 攀 渀 䴀 漀 渀 搀 愀 礀 琀 漀 匀 愀 琀 甀 爀 搀 愀 礀
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眀 眀 眀 ⸀ 瀀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀 椀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 猀 ⸀ 挀 漀 洀 簀 㔀 㐀 アパート アパート 㜀 㔀 㠀 㜀 ㈀ 簀 猀 愀 氀 攀 猀 䀀 瀀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀 椀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 猀 ⸀ 挀 漀 洀
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⨀ 吀 攀 爀 洀 猀 ☀ 挀 漀 渀 搀 椀 琀 椀 漀 渀 猀 愀 瀀 瀀 氀 礀 ⸀

£POA
£110
ORIEL CHAIR, RUME. WWW.RUME.CO.UK
METZ DINING CHAIR, PEPPERMILL
INTERIORS, BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK.
WWW.PEPPERMILLINTERIORS.COM
£40
A BY AMARA ARCADE
CARNIVAL TRINKET BOX,
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AULA NESTING COFFEE TABLE,
WWW.MADE.COM
£399
£20
JOASH SET OF FOUR
GRID TUMBLERS,
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ALEXANDER AND JAMES ABRAHAM JUNIOR
SOFA, COOKES FURNITURE, BIRMINGHAM.
WWW.COOKESFURNITURE.CO.UK

£POA
BOTANICAL LEAVES 1 MODERN
WALL ART PRINT, MODE PRINTS.
WWW.MODEPRINTS.COM
£599
ELLEN ARMCHAIR,
ESSENTIAL HOME.
WWW.ESSENTIALHOME.EU
£4.50
£16
1882 LTD JENNY MUG,
AMARA. WWW.AMARA.COM
HOWARDIAN KIRKHAM PEACH THROW,
£220, ADRIANA HOMEWARES.
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£18
MODENA COLOUR BLOCK
FRAME, OLIVER BONAS.
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CASSEY CABINET,
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CONCRETE BASIN,£1,164, RIPPLES BATHROOMS
AT COOKES FURNITURE, BIRMINGHAM.
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FRENCH CONNECTION ZINC CUDDLER SOFA
IN LUXE VELVET FOREST GREEN, £849, DFS.
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G A R D E N
Create
a great
outdoors
AS we head into the warmer months, it’s great to
be able to spend more and more time enjoying our
gardens, as outdoor spaces become an extension of
our homes.
Despite the unpredictable British weather, the nation
is embracing the Mediterranean lifestyle, with outdoor
entertaining and kitchen areas a key trend for 2018.
Create a dedicated area with comfy furniture and
mood lighting, complete with a sunken fire pit,
barbecue or pizza oven.
While well-stocked beds and borders are always
a welcome sight, if you want to incorporate extra
planting into you terrace or patio area then stylish
planters are the way to go. Choose styles which
complement the theme of your garden, or add a spot
of interest with quirky options. Display stands are
another great way to showcase some of your favourite
plants.
SKARGAARDEN BONAN LOUNGE
SOFA, £3,999, HOUSEOLOGY.
WWW.HOUSEOLOGY.COM
£6
GARDEN TRADING FINSBURY STEEL
WALL LIGHT, BLACK BY DESIGN.
WWW.BLACK-BY-DESIGN.CO.UK
HOUSE DOCTOR HANGING
WOVEN PLANTER, AMARA.
WWW.AMARA.COM
GARDEN TRADING ALDSWORTH
WOODEN PLANT STAND,
WWW.CUCKOOLAND.COM
£90
£50
NATURAL INSECT HOUSE,
GEORGE HOME AT ASDA.
WWW.ASDA.COM
£85
22

012
012
A family run business offering bespoke
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Sutton Coldfield
B75 6NA
0121 308 5094
www.heritageglassroomsltd.co.uk
HERITAGE GLASS ROOMS
A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS OFFERING BESPOKE ORANGERIES
UPVC - HARDWOOD TIMBER - ALUMINIUM
orangeries
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Telephone: 0121 308 5094 or 07957480121 - www.heritageglassroomsltd.co.uk
THE NEW NAME IN HIGH QUALITY
OUTDOOR STEEL PRODUCTS
A family run business offering besp
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A family run business offering besp
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A family run business offering bespoke
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Come and see our show room at
Heritage Glass Rooms
Mitchells
Weeford Road
Sutton Coldfield
B75 6NA
0121 308 5094
www.heritageglassroomsltd.co.uk
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ENCLOSURE - FIRE PITS AND BRAZIERS - GRILLES - OUTDOOR BAR
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Skillcraft Products ltd, Unit C, Atlas Trading Estate, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14 8TJ
Email: sales@skillcraftproducts.com - Tel: 01902 507277 - Open 8am - 8pm

NEON YELLOW PLANT POT,
NOT-ANOTHER-BILL.
WWW.NOTANOTHERBILL.COM
£360
£16
MUSHROOM ORNAMENT,
FOUR OAKS RECLAMATION.
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£245
£40
£49 LARGE VINTAGE PLANTER,
PEPPERMILL INTERIORS,
BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK.
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BEEPOT BEE HOUSE AND GARDEN
PLANTER, GREEN AND BLUE.
WWW.GREENANDBLUE.CO.UK
ELEPHANT PLANTER, NEXT.
WWW.NEXT.CO.UK
VALENTINE DOUBLE
RATTAN SUN LOUNGER,
WWW.CUCKOOLAND.COM
£1,799
24
POINT ARC GARDEN TABLE, £1,690,
GO MODERN FURNITURE.
WWW.GOMODERN.CO.UK
GRANITE WATER FOUNTAIN, £695,
BLACKBROOK INTERIORS.
WWW.BLACKBROOK-INTERIORS.CO.UK

GARDEN TRADING HAMPSTEAD BENCH, £285,
HOUSEOLOGY. WWW.HOUSEOLOGY.COM
GARDEN TRADING DRINKS TROLLEY, £95,
HOUSEOLOGY. WWW.HOUSEOLOGY.COM
GARDEN TRADING OUTDOOR RATTAN
HANGING NEST CHAIR, £325, LAGOON.
WWW.VIVALAGOON.COM
REMY BLUE ROUND DINING TABLE WITH
SIX BLUE STACKING ARMCHAIRS, £1,999,
BRIDGMAN. WWW.BRIDGMAN.CO.UK

CO M P E T I T I O N
A jolly good show - or two
THE BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW AND GARDENERS’ WORLD LIVE RETURN TO BIRMINGHAM THIS SUMMER,
FROM JUNE 14 TO 17, PRESENTING THE ULTIMATE DAY OUT FOR FOOD LOVERS AND GARDEN ENTHUSIASTS
ALIKE - AND YOU COULD WIN ONE OF FIVE PAIRS OF TICKETS
One of the summer’s most popular days out will return
to Birmingham again this June, as BBC Gardeners’
World Live and the BBC Good Food Show Summer
take over the NEC for four days.
With one ticket, visitors will gain entry to both
spectacular events, which will attract more than 500
exhibitors from the culinary and horticultural worlds
from Thursday, June 14 to Sunday, June 17.
As well as the hundreds of stands, the shows also
bring a star-studded line-up of some of the country’s
favourite gardeners, chefs, experts and bakers.
The line-up includes BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World
lead presenter Monty Don plus co-presenters including
Carol Klein, Adam Frost and, new to the show this
year, Mark Lane and Arit Anderson. Fellow television
personality Alan Titchmarsh also joins the team on
Friday.
At the BBC Good Food Show, firm favourites Mary
Berry, James Martin, Tom Kerridge, Michel Roux Jr.
and many more will be cooking up a storm on stage in
the Big Kitchen, with plenty more chances to see them
around the show.
This year’s BBC Good Food Show sees the return of
a selection of fantastic shopping areas including the
Producers’ Village and the Drinks Emporium. New
to the 2018 Show is the Eat Well zone, showcasing
the best in vegan and vegetarian products, with expert
advice and recipe ideas at the show’s Summer Kitchen
stage.
TOM KERRIDGE BRINGS HIS
EXPERTISE TO THE BBC GOOD
FOOD SHOW THIS SUMMER
ALAN TITCHMARSH WILL BE
RETURNING TO BBC GARDENERS’
WORLD LIVE AT THE NEC
Stepping outside, you’ll find inspirational Show
Gardens and top shopping for your garden. The
Made in Birmingham garden will feature a railway
embankment plot with allotment, wildflower meadow
and a working steam engine with Pullman Dining
carriage.
The Wyevale Garden Centres Solutions Garden
will display stunning best practice ways to deal with
common issues such as soil types or shady areas; the
Tesco Every Little Helps Garden offers up ideas for
small changes that can make big differences; and the
Beautiful Borders will be full of small space ideas.
Whether inside or outside, you’ll find the best in
cooking and gardening inspiration with four days of
free entry stages showcasing a full mix of plot to plate
inspiration, live demos, Q&As, talks and plenty of
advice. Ticket holders will gain entry to both shows,
with children under five going free and discounts and
free tickets available for groups of eight or more. For
an extra special treat, the VIP and VIP Luxe packages
26

BLACKBROOK INTERIORS
We are a family run business home to an impressive range of furniture, interior furnishings,
mirrors, accessories, antique and modern lighting and Chandeliers. We have huge
courtyards full of interesting bronze statuary, fountains, stoneware and garden items.
www.blackbrook-interiors.co.uk
Open: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm. Sat: 9.30am - 5pm. Sun: 10am - 4pm
Tel: 01543 481010 - Email: info@blackbrook-interiors.co.uk
London Rd, Lichfield WS14 0PT
blackbrook_interiors Blackbrook Interiors @BlackbrookWS14

include front row seats in the Big Kitchen super theatre
and BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre, access to
exclusive lounges and much more.
Adam Frost, who will be giving his insight in the BBC
Gardeners’ World Live Theatre on the Thursday and
Sunday of the show, said: “This year’s show is really
about helping gardeners make every space count. I’ll
be live on stage, talking about the progress of my own
garden and giving lots of design tips, as will many
fellow Gardeners’ World presenters, including Monty
Don and gardening legend Alan Titchmarsh too. It’s
the perfect show for anyone looking for exciting garden
inspiration to try at home - see you there!”
Tom Kerridge, who will be cooking live in three Big
Kitchen sessions, said: “There aren’t many events that
compare to the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC
Birmingham. With the size of the venue, the amount
of delicious food and drink to sample and buy, and the
expert demonstrations, it really is an amazing day out.”
For more information and tickets to BBC Gardeners’
World Live and the BBC Good Food Show, visit
www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com or www.
bbcgoodfoodshow.com
The Competition
J’AIME HAS TEAMED UP WITH BBC GOOD
FOOD SHOW AND BBC GARDENERS’
WORLD LIVE AT THE NEC TO OFFER
READERS THE CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF
FIVE PAIRS OF TICKETS TO THE SUMMER
SPECTACULAR. VISITORS CAN ENJOY
THE BEST IN COOKING AND GARDENING
INSPIRATION FROM A PROGRAMME
OF LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS, Q&AS,
INFORMATIVE TALKS AND THE CHANCE
TO CHAT TO MORE THAN 150 ARTISAN
PRODUCERS AND GARDENING EXPERTS.
FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN,
SIMPLY ANSWER THE FOLLOWING
QUESTION: NAME ONE OF THE
CELEBRITY EXPERTS WHO WILL BE
APPEARING AT EITHER SHOW.
Send your answer, along with your name,
address and telephone number, by email to
competitions@jaimemagazine.com with BBC Summer
Shows competition as the email subject. Entries must be
received by 5pm on Friday, May 25, and our winner will
be notified by Wednesday, May 30. Tickets are valid on
Thursday, Friday or Sunday; no Saturday admission. General
admission tickets do not include a seat in the Big Kitchen.
Big Kitchen seats are available to purchase on the day for
£3, subject to availability. No cash alternative is available.
Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.jaimemagazine.com
for further details.
28

Broadway Kitchens
A FAMILY BUSINESS OF THREE GENERATIONS
A recent installation by Broadway Kitchens
We design, manufacture and install bespoke traditional
and modern kitchens to suit you and your lifestyle.
0121 353 4999 - www.kitchensbybroadway.co.uk
54-56 Thornhill Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, B74 3EN
CALL to arrange a design consultation - VISIT our showroom - VIEW our kitchens online

F O O D & D R I N K
A dining delight with country charm
NAMED IN THE MICHELIN GUIDE AS ONE OF THE UK’S BEST DINING PUBS, THE DUNCOMBE ARMS
SERVES UP MODERN BRITISH CLASSICS WITH FLAIR AND STYLE, AS AMY NORBURY DISCOVERED
We’ve got no shortage of fantastic eateries
around these parts. But sometimes it’s good
to venture a little further afield - especially if
the experience is as good as our evening at
The Duncombe Arms proved to be.
This rural gem has been lauded as one of
the best dining pubs in the UK, featuring in
the Michelin Guide and counting two AA
Rosettes among its accolades, so we were
delighted to be invited over to sample their
offerings.
On the edge of the Peak District, close to the
market towns of Ashbourne and Uttoxeter,
it’s actually much closer than you think. Even
better, come November the pub is opening bedrooms,
meaning you can make a trip of it; perhaps take in a
walk around the picturesque countryside, or enjoy the
thrills and spills of Alton Towers just three miles down
the road.
The pub’s homely atmosphere is evident from the
second you set foot through the door; the greeting
is warm, the fires blazing and the rustic-chic decor
creates a stylish setting.
Wonderfully stocked with everything from ales and fine
wines to an impressive selection of gins and whiskeys,
the bar is a convivial hub for diners enjoying pre and
post-dinner drinks, as well as locals popping in for a
refreshing beverage. My husband immediately spied
the pub’s very own ale, the Duncombe Ale, which he
had to sample, proclaiming it an excellent pint.
The staff are smartly clad and exceptionally
welcoming; service is truly top notch and we were well
looked after from start to finish.
And then there’s the food. The scents wafting through
from the kitchen are immediately enticing and the
plates which were making their way to hungry diners
looked exceedingly tempting. We opted to forgo a
pre-dinner drink and head straight to our table in the
restaurant. We’d made an early evening booking so
it was pleasantly quiet, but by 8pm the tables were
getting full - rather impressive for a Monday.
The talented kitchen team is led by Stuart Langdell,
who honed his considerable skills at Simpsons and as
a head chef for none other than Marco Pierre White
and arrived at The Duncombe Arms from a stint at
Michelin-starred The Cross at Kenilworth. Stuart’s
passion, he explains to us when he pops out of the
kitchen for a quick chat, is for getting the absolute
best out of fantastic local and seasonal produce.
His modern British menu isn’t about wild flavour
combinations and eccentric techniques; rather, using
care and skill to showcase the glorious produce at
hand.
And therein lay our first problem; what to choose from
the small but perfectly formed menu? Each of the six
30

starters and seven main dishes sounded so mouthwateringly
good, it was a tough task to choose between
them. But choose we did, deliberations helped along
by a good glass of shiraz and a platter of beautifully
baked warm focaccia and sourdough.
My husband called dibs on the chicken liver parfait
with burnt orange and toasted brioche, £8, while
I was tempted by both the buttered asparagus with
soft-poached egg and Hollandaise, £9, and the soused
mackerel, beetroot and horseradish salad, £9. But it
was the fried duck egg with stilton and aged balsamic,
£7, which most intrigued me, so the decision was
made.
The parfait was simply sublime; rich in flavour yet
silky and oh-so-light, it was a dish both of us could
have eaten again and again. The sharp sweetness
of the smooth burnt orange chutney added just
enough acidity to cut through the parfait and create a
beautifully balanced dish.
Despite the parfait’s prowess, my duck egg and stilton
combination certainly gave it a run for its money in the
flavour stakes. The dish, explained Stuart, was a Marco
favourite, and the unusual combination worked in
harmony for an explosion on the taste buds. The egg
was runny and luscious, and the stilton added a deep
saltiness to complement the sweet brioche.
For the main event my husband was tempted away
from his usual steak by the braised beef featherblade
with smoked onion, creamed potatoes, watercress and
horseradish, £19, at the recommendation of The
Duncombe Arms’ general manager James Oddy. And
it proved to be a winning combination. The beef was
melt-in-the-mouth tender, yielding under the slightest
pressure from a fork, while the smoking process added
a new depth to the sweet onion. The potatoes were
the creamiest I’d ever tasted - a substantial helping of
butter adding a luxurious touch. It was superb, and my
husband declared he was just sorry it had to come to
an end.
I was equally impressed by my roast cod with lemon
butter, capers, shrimp and crushed potatoes, £21. The
fish was perfectly cooked, with the beautifully firm
flakes just opaque. Acidity from the lemon and capers
tempered the richness of the butter sauce, while the
shrimps were little morsels of delight.
It seemed a shame to move onto desserts; until the
desserts arrived, that is. I love a good, old fashioned
rice pud, and Stuart elevated this classic to something
exceptional with the addition of prunes in Armagnac
and crystallised almond, £7.50.
My husband’s custard tart with strawberry sorbet,
£7.50, was a thing of beauty which tasted every bit
as good as it looked. Thin, delicate and crisp pastry
encased a perfectly set custard flavoured with warming
nutmeg, while the sorbet added a refreshing fruitiness.
We finished the evening with coffees - a lovely Peruvian
tunki - accompanied by salted caramel chocolates and,
while we sipped our brews reflecting on an evening
well spent, we vowed to make a return visit.
Good local pubs are worth their weight in gold
when they get their dining right. And, oh boy, have
The Duncombe Arms got it right. A great setting,
exemplary service and a menu which leaves you
wanting to come straight back for more - you won’t be
sorry you made the trip.
31

F O O D & D R I N K
Eating for health
DR RUPY AUJLA, THE NHS GP WHO STARTED THE DOCTOR’S KITCHEN AS A PROJECT TO INSPIRE PATIENTS ABOUT THE
BEAUTY OF FOOD AND THE MEDICINAL EFFECTS OF EATING WELL, WILL BE APPEARING AT THIS YEAR’S BBC GOOD FOOD
SHOW SUMMER, TAKING PLACE FROM JUNE 14 TO 17 AT THE NEC - AND HERE WE SHARE A RECIPE FROM HIS HEALTHY
EATING BOOK, THE DOCTOR’S KITCHEN
Dr Rupy Aujla says: “As a doctor, I see the effects of
poor dietary and lifestyle choices every day. I got so
many questions about nutrition whilst working as a
general practitioner that I plucked up the courage to
get behind a camera and literally show my patients
how to get phenomenal ingredients onto their plate.
I’m just a straight talking doctor giving healthy eating
inspiration
“Flavour-packed, slow-cooked dishes are the simplest
yet most satisfying and comforting meals. This rich
Massaman curry can be made with meat, but I love
using butternut squash instead. It takes on the spices
really well and, with the extra veg, the dish has plenty
of micronutrients. Greens, squash and other yellow or
orange coloured vegetables are dense sources of provitamin
A and offer vital phytonutrients for immunity
and eye health. This recipe makes enough for lunch
the next day, to make your co-workers envious!”
Butternut Massaman Curry
Ingredients
2 tbsp coconut oil
3 tsp Massaman paste (shop-bought or
homemade paste)
100g coconut cream
500g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and
cut into 4cm cubes
300ml vegetable stock or water
2 tsp fish sauce (optional)
2 bay leaves
1 tsp runny honey
50g sugar snap peas, roughly chopped
50g spinach, roughly chopped
25g coriander leaves, roughly chopped
20g dry roasted almonds, roughly crushed
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
cooked brown rice, to serve (optional)
Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan over a
medium heat, add the Massaman paste and fry
for 1 minute, then stir in the coconut cream.
Add the cubed butternut squash, season with
salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2–3
minutes, until lightly coloured.
Pour in the stock or water, add the fish sauce (if
using), bay leaves and honey, cover and simmer
for 25 minutes, until the vegetables are soft and
the sauce has reduced.
Remove from the heat, fold in the sugar snap
peas and spinach and cover for 2 minutes. The
heat of the curry will lightly cook them.
Garnish the curry with the coriander and
crushed almonds and serve it on its own or
with a little brown rice on the side to soak up
the creamy sauce.
TIPS: Use soy sauce instead of fish sauce, if
you wish, and add coconut milk with the stock
to make the curry sauce extra creamy.
32

B E S P O K E S O F A M A N U F A C T U R E
& R E - U P H O L S T E R Y S P E C I A L I S T
Our team of highly skilled professional craftsmen, create and manufacture
sofa’s from design, for a living space that is truly unique. Coupled with our huge
selection of fabrics we have the ability to create almost any type of bespoke design.
Using traditional skills, we can also strip down your old suite or sofa and re-create the original
design with our superior re-upholstery which is highly renowned for its finish and meticulous detail.
‘For a truly unique and individual lounge setting we welcome
you to our factory showroom to see what we can create for you.’
Unit 19, Martindale, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 7XN
Contact Simon Edwards or Chris Edwards on 01543 505539
Email: sales@ralvernupholstery.co.uk - www.ralvernupholstery.co.uk

F O O D & D R I N K
Cocktail of the month
HARRIET LOVATT, FROM LE RÊVE COCKTAIL BAR IN LICHFIELD, HAS CREATED A
REFRESHING AND OH-SO-PRETTY SPRING COCKTAIL TO TANTALISE YOUR TASTEBUDS
Spring Temptation
50ml gin
25ml vanilla syrup
12.5ml raspberry purée
12.5ml fresh lemon juice
1 bottle tonic water
3 fresh raspberries
Muddle three fresh
raspberries with vanilla
syrup in your shaker.
Add ice and all other
ingredients apart from
the tonic, then shake
vigorously and double
strain into your glass.
Finally, top up with the
tonic water.
34

P R E N T I C E
Quality Furniture
01827 287387
enquiry@prentice.co.uk
www.prentice.co.uk

F O O D & D R I N K
A refreshing change
MICHAEL BALLANCE, FOUNDER OF SPECIALIST WINE COMPANY ITALSARDO,
SAYS IT’S TIME TO TAKE NOTICE OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF WHITE WINE
It’s one of those dilemmas in life; what to order in a
restaurant or a wine bar when a nice glass of white
wine is calling.
Is it a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Pinot
Grigio? Well I say why not try an alternative to those
traditional whites with a Vermentino.
Vermentino is primarily found in Italy, particularly
Sardinia where the climate best suits this grape variety.
It is often grown on slopes facing the sea or very close
to the coast.
The wine is dry, fresh and very tasty, a delicate and a
very fine wine and is best served at around 8-10oC.
There is a great range of Vermentino wines; and here
are some that Ital Sardo has chosen to bring to the
UK.
36

ITAL SARDO
FINE WINES FROM ITALY
A REFRESHING CHANGE
Visit our online store for personally sourced wines from Italy
www.italsardo.com
wine@italsardo.com 01283 711588

Tyros
Tyrsos Vermentino is a DOC wine produced from
vines grown 50 metres above sea level on slightly
sandy and clay soils. This wine is intense, smooth,
fruity and flowery. It is a good to drink alone, with
fish or light meat dishes. 13% alcohol.
Ruinas
Ruinus Vermentino is an IGT wine produced from
vineyards situated in the heart of Gallura, 350 metres
above sea level. This wine has a straw colour with
a very fine bouquet, full of exotic fruit tastes. The
granite/sandy soils imparts good minerality to the
wine. 14.67% alcohol.
Aragosta
If you fancy a fizzy Vermentino you have to try
Aragosta Brut, a refreshing change from Prosecco.
Best served at 6-8oC, this fresh and elegant wine is a
perfect aperitif or enjoyed with various seafood dishes.
13.5% alcohol.
Pedres
One of the premium areas of Sardinia offers DOCG
(Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita)
which the Italians view as the highest designation
for quality. Pedres DOCG Vermentino is a dry and
fresh wine with a delicate bouquet with fresh fruit
and flowery notes. This is an excellent example of the
Vermentino grape. 13% alcohol.
Lupus
This is one of my favourite wines, a DOCG Superiore
from Gallura, Sardinia. This straw-coloured
Vermentino comes in a bottle with a glass stopper,
rather than a cork, synthetic cork or screw cap which
are the traditional methods. This glass stopper is a
nice novel idea that imparts individuality to the wine.
The wine is very elegant, full of flavour, full of aromas
of exotic fruits, good minerality and long finish - a
long persistence in the mouth and nose. All in all, it’s
an excellent DOCG Vermentino Superiore. 13.5 %
alcohol.
TYROS
LUPUS
ARAGOSTA
RUINAS
PEDRES
Ital Sardo provides the superiority of Sardinian wine, and has also has recently
extended its range of wines to include mainland Italy. All of the wines can be
purchased from the new website www.italsardo.com or contact Patrick Gaunt,
operations manager, on 01283 711588.
38

The Pear Tree
c r ê p e r i e
HEART OF THE COUNTRY VILLAGE
Open Bank Holiday Mondays
May 7 th & May 28 th
t he heart of t he home...
Visit our showroom to be amazed by the choice -
from traditional to modern
With such a wide range of fires, fireplaces and stoves
there is sure to be a style to suit you & your home
We of f er
a c omp le t e
inst alla t ion
serV ice
Come and join us for a tasty galette or sweet crépe
We specialise in gluten free
Open Tues - Sun
10am-4.30pm
Call to book on
01543 481807
tatlowcarpets
& flooring
Quality flooring at affordable prices
Abingdon, Adam’s, Associated Weavers, Axminster, Brintons, Brockways,
Cormar, Crucial Trading, Penthouse, Ulsters, Karndean & Project Floors
Free advice ✔ Free quotations ✔
Furniture moved ✔ Our own regular fitters
✔
V isit our showr oom and be amazed by t he choice!
Wit h such a wide range fr om traditional t o
modern, t here’s sure t o be a style t o suit you!
10%
OFF
ALTERNATIVE FLOORING
RANGES THROUGHOUT MAY
Please see our website for further details www.tatlowcarpets.co.uk
Tel: 01543 264766
Open to the public. Mon-Fri: 9.00am - 5.00pm. Sat: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Unit 4, Europa Way, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield, Staffs, WS14 9TZ
5 Stafford Road, Lichfield WS13 7BZ
Tel: 01543 263 383 • www.thefireplacelichfield.co.uk
Email: sales@thefireplacelichfield.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am - 4.30pm • Sat 10am - 4pm.
Closed Sundays and bank holidays. FREE ON-SITE PARKING.

F O O D & D R I N K
International f lavours
LICHFIELD’S BEACON PARK WILL COME ALIVE WITH AN ECLECTIC MIX OF FLAVOURS AND AROMAS FROM ACROSS
THE GLOBE WHEN THE FIRST CAFÉ INTERNATIONAL ARRIVES ON MAY 5. AMY NORBURY CHATS TO FRADLEY
COUPLE NICOLA CLARK AND STEFAN SIEKIERSKI, WHO ARE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE NEW FOOD EVENT
From French crepes, Sicilian cannoli and
Spanish churros to Japanese hirata buns
and Brazilian barbecue, there will be
flavours and aromas galore ready to entice
hungry punters into the picturesque
surroundings of Lichfield’s Beacon Park
this month.
Café International is a brand new
celebration of international food set up by
Nicola Clark and Stefan Siekierski, who
run an event management company of
the same name. And on Saturday, May
5, their inaugural event will see the park
come alive with cuisine from around the
world.
Stefan and Nicola may be familiar faces
in the city; they already run the Cathedral
Crepes stand, which can be found in
the shadows of the Samuel Johnson
Birthplace Museum most Saturdays, as
well as catering for corporate events and
weddings.
Self-confessed Francophiles, Stefan and Nicola spend
much of their family holiday time at their second
home in France, near Caen in Brittany, with their
three children; Stefan’s sons Asher, 13, and 16-year-old
Louis, and Nicola’s daughter Alice, who’s 11. And it’s
there where they fell in love with French food - and
GRILLBRAZIL
crepes in particular.
“The one thing we crave more than anything when we
are in England is delicious hot crepes,” says 38-yearold
Stefan. “This is why we decided to make our own,
to share the love.
“We love all of the big French markets, and there are
regular ones in the town where we live in France so
we always go over to chat to the
locals and eat the crepes there,
and we thought it would be good
to bring that back to Lichfield
with us.
“The crepes were just a hobby
to begin with. We just thought it
would be something nice to do,
and a way to spend some time
together on a Saturday.”
Whenever they go on a jaunt to
France, Stefan and Nicola stock
up on vital ingredients for their
authentic French crepes.
“A lot of the products we use
come from France, we try to
40

CONSEQUENCE
OF
WAR
1918 - 2018
16 APRIL – 24 JUNE
a major exhibition
exploring themes
of war & peace
through art
and history
Internationally renowned artists include
HENRY MOORE
PAUL NASH
GRAHAM SUTHERLAND
HENRI GAUDIER-BRZESKA
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on twitter @LichfieldCath
www.lichfield-cathedral.org/peace

ing as much back as we
can,” says Stefan. “The
products we use to make the
crepes and galettes are all
French, and we brings lovely
French jams over too.”
As well as their crepe business
and events management,
Stefan and Nicola both have
demanding day jobs, working
within the NHS; Stefan is
a qualified nurse and works
on large projects for NHS
trusts around the country,
while Nicola works on the
governance side. Their roles
both involve organising events
- skills which have come in
very handy for their new
venture.
The original inspiration for an
international food event came one Saturday when the
duo were helming their crepe stand in the city centre.
They hit upon the idea of a European street food event
as a way to expand their business - and that initial
inspiration has now snowballed into a series of major
events in Beacon Park throughout the year.
“There was originally going to be just one event,” says
CHURROS BARCELONA
VISITORS CAN RELAX AND ENJOY THEIR FOOD
UNDER THE BEAUTIFUL STRETCH TENT
Nicola, who’s 36. “But then we went to meet with the
Lichfield parks team and found out about them losing
their funding for the parks so we thought we could
work with them to do something.”
Supported by Lichfield District Council and Lichfield
BID, their aim is to entice more people from around
the city and beyond to use the park.
“Lichfield District Council have been amazing
throughout the whole process of setting up
the event,” says Stefan. “We’re so lucky to
live in Lichfield and to have their support.
They know they need to get tourists to
come into the city and to stay overnight,
and because our events are going on until
10pm we hope people will make a weekend
of it.”
The spot the couple have chosen to hold
their international street food festival is the
very spot where they often enjoy family
picnics.
“We’ve managed to source some really
good vendors,” says Stefan. “We’ve also
helped some people to get set up so they’re
going to be doing their first event with us at
Café International.”
“We’ve got around 40 international food
traders, which is a nice number,” adds
Nicola. “We didn’t want to duplicate types
of food; we wanted to get a really good
mix.
“We’re holding the event under a big
marquee, with all of the food vendors
stationed around it. The idea is that people
will choose their food and then gather
under the marquee bar area to enjoy it.”
The large central marquee - a funky stretch
42

tent covering an area 15 by 21 metres - will host the
main bar, which will be fully stocked with wines, beers
and ales. Smaller marquees will hold the separate gin
and prosecco bars, and there will be plenty of seating
to enable visitors to relax and enjoy a drink and bite to
eat in the tranquil park surroundings.
Throughout the day there will also be a variety
of family entertainment, as well as cookery
demonstrations with experts from the Barbecue
Association using locally-sourced meats to add an extra
dimension to proceedings.
At the heart of Nicola and Stefan’s events is the
Lichfield community; they’re working with St Giles
Hospice to sell their lottery tickets during the events,
as well as promoting a reading scheme for people with
mental health issues at Lichfield library.
“It’s about food, entertainment and Lichfield,” says
Stefan. “We want people to come together in the park
for a great day out with their families.”
Café International is just the start of Nicola and
Stefan’s events plans for the park. In June they are
holding the inaugural Lichfield Comedy Festival,
with a music event planned for July, a Halloweenthemed
event for October and the Café International
Christmas Festival in December.
The comedy festival, which takes place on June 23,
will see a host of comedians take to a stage within the
main marquee, with free entertainment and comedy
shows from 10am until 4pm, followed by tickets shows
aimed at both families until 7pm and adults from 7pm
until 10pm. There will also be street food and bars for
everyone to enjoy. The event will be hosted by Comedy
42’s Chris Purchase, and comedians on the main bill
include The Chase favourite Paul Sinha and Live at
The Apollo regular Dane Baptiste.
“We love the park; we spend a lot of time there as a
family,” explains Stefan. “We want to both use the
park and generate income for the park, as well as
generate more income for the city. We want the whole
of Lichfield to get involved, and to bring people here
to our beautiful city from around Staffordshire and
beyond.
“It’s certainly turned into more than a hobby!”
For more information visit
www.cafeinternational.co.uk.
NICOLA AND STEFAN RUN
CATHEDRAL CREPES
43

T R AV E L
Dalmatian Discovery
EMMA STONE, OF RB COLLECTION TAKES A FAMILIAR JOURNEY AROUND
BEAUTIFUL CROATIA TO REIGNITE HER LOVE AFFAIR WITH THIS ADRIATIC JEWEL
THE WATERFRONT TOWN OF ZADAR
Never mind that I know Croatia really well (it’s one
of my favourite places on earth) and never mind
that it was just a few months ago that I had cruised
along the country’s amazing coastline on board the
Adriatic’s newest casual ship, the Agape Rose. Just
three months later I was back, enticed by what is
surely one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe.
My love affair with Croatia is sincere, passionate -
and ongoing.
And so it was in mid-September that I returned to
my beloved Croatia – to the Dalmatia region to be
exact. The peak season crowds had left (wonderful),
everything was still open (great) and the sea had
warmed up beautifully (perfect). Most days it was
sunny and around 24C.
My journey started in Zadar, a glorious waterfront
town about two hours north of famous Split and
where the city’s old defensive walls had gained
UNESCO heritage status just a few months earlier,
in July 2017. A couple of cruise ships were docked
one day, yet their passengers did not swamp the old
town as sadly sometimes happens elsewhere. The
two main attractions for the cruising crowd were the
Greeting to the Sun and the Sea Organ, both located
on the wide pedestrianised seafront promenade.
They were installed a few years ago to bring life to
the waterfront and they have done just that. The
Greeting to the Sun is a massive, solar glass disk on
the ground which stores the rays of sun during the
day and releases them in the evening into a frenzy of
colourful, sparkling laser-type beams. The Sea Organ
is a clever piece of work where drilled holes and
pipes allow the sea to make music - literally. People
sit there for hours, listening and watching the bright
blue Adriatic.
I passed them as I headed for the ferry to Dugi Otok
(long island). Part of my love affair with Croatia is
connected to her amazing, hidden beaches and there
are some gorgeous ones here. I adore secret bays.
That evening I drove the 45 minutes to the
amazingly named Biograd na Moru and the
Hotel Ilirija right on the waterfront. Over coffee
with Davor the reception manager (who said he
remembered me from the previous year), I heard
about the new indoor pool coming in spring 2018,
the new glass balconies and when we moved on to
the subject of music, Davor berated me with “How
did you miss our amazing jazz and blues festival?”. It
44

THE GLORIOUS WALLED
CITY OF TROGIR
is now in the diary - late July 2018. Here I indulged
in two days of swimming through the lagoon-type
bays with a quick trip over to Zlarin island late
one afternoon and yes, a secret beach which I had
to myself. I love the way that Croatian ferries and
catamarans make travel so easy.
My journey southwards brought me to Trogir a few
days later. I never tire of this place and it really is
one of the most stunning walled cities. It too is a
UNESCO heritage site and handy for Split just 30
minutes away. Endless polished marble streets, a
museum telling the legend of Kairos, the God of the
Fleeting Moment (useful for a pub quiz perhaps?),
the wonderful main square with St Lawrence
Cathedral and some impressive jewellery boutiques.
I stayed at the brand new Hotel Ola at Seget Donji,
a quick taxi ride away (both road and water type).
I had read reports about the jaw dropping views
from the rooftop infinity pool and, oh yes, they were
amazing as was the view from my room across the
sea towards Trogir. The hotel’s brilliant design means
that every room has a wonderful sea view. But it was
the Energy Clinic and Spa that drew my attention.
There I learned that in April, May, September and
October there is usually a 25 per cent discount on
most of the programmes from detox to anti-smoking
and I had found the perfect birthday present for my
old pal David who has been trying to kick the habit
for years. Voucher beautifully wrapped and tucked
away, I wondered if my friend might welcome me as
an observer next May?
Food in this part of Croatia is essentially
Mediterranean and healthy with lots of fish, seafood,
pasta and quality olive oil and I had been eating lots
of it. I had also noticed cookery courses advertised in
Trogir.
But I was getting ready to eat in a different way in
Split, Croatia’s second city. Even 10 years ago, Split
was considered as just the main ferry hub for
the islands. Fast forward and it has become as
sought after as Dubrovnik further south and
people now stay longer. Split has always had a
buzz, with daily life going on inside the historic
walls of Diocletian’s Palace (also a UNESCO
listed site and where the Emperor astutely had
his retirement palace built). I had been told
that Split had become something of a gourmet
hotspot. Really? I found trendy new wine bars
serving a wide range of tapas-style dishes,
bistros offering everything from fusion cuisine to
gourmet burgers, wonderful beach cafes serving
small fresh fish in paper wrappers and some
very high quality fine dining establishments too.
Whoever would have thought it? On my last
morning here I had coffee at a cafe on Split’s
sandy Bavcice beach (sandy beaches are rare
in Croatia) and watched locals play their game of
‘picigin’ which involves running through a shallow
sea and some dexterous moves with a sort of tennis
ball. It was time to leave for my ferry.
My destination was Supetar on the north coast
of the island of Brac. The crossing takes just 50
minutes and it’s so easy and frequent that many
locals commute to Split for work. Tourists staying in
Supetar can easily nip over to Split for a night at the
opera – and back (last ferry from Split is at midnight).
The island of Brac is one of my favourites. There
are some great beaches, some excellent walks across
old shepherds trails, some wonderful summer
TROGIR IS A UNESCO WORLD
HERITAGE SITE
45

TROGIR, CROATIA
festivals of food, wine and music and yes, some
secret coves. While the V-shaped Zlatni Rat beach
in Bol on the south of the island is possibly the most
photographed place in Croatia, there are plenty of
smaller waterside spots. I took a water taxi along to
Lovrecina beach (not far from the Hotel Pastura in
Postira – best reached from the sea or down a track)
where I enjoyed a seafood risotto lunch at the beach
bistro with a glass of superb white wine for around
£12. There I met an American couple who were on
their way to the island of Vis next day. They were
going there for the very experience that bowled me
over when I had visited from my Agape Rose cruise
earlier in the year.
Military history really doesn’t get more fascinating
than on Vis with those hidden submarine hideouts,
miles of tunnels and underground rocket launch
sites, the old airfield and so many monuments to
those who gave their lives during World War Two.
I half wished I was going with the Americans. I
wondered if they might bump into Meryl Streep,
Colin Firth and others who were on the island during
September and October, filming the sequel to the
film Mamma Mia.
Dubrovnik was to be almost my final stop on this
incredible coastal journey. So much has been
written about this UNESCO protected city. Has it
been spoiled? No. Has it been over-run by cruise
passengers? Yes, they are there in numbers but if
you plan your visit to the old city before 10am and
after 5pm, many of them have returned to their
ships. Is it expensive? Yes, in just the way that a
famous, sought after place anywhere in the world is
more costly than a tiny, unknown village.
Beauty does become Dubrovnik. I have visited so
many times since the early Nineties and it still is
special. I look beyond the tourist tat on sale up into
the Renaissance balconies, I try to take in a concert
in Rector’s Palace and I always hop over to Lokrum
island (just 10 minutes away) to stroll through the
Botanical Gardens, admire the monastery ruins and
the Venus pools. There is always a peaceful spot
there somewhere.
I stayed in my favourite place near Dubrovnik and
that is Cavtat. A long curved waterfront lined with
palm trees that has a look of Saint Tropez about
it, a lovely walk through woods up to the Racic
mausoleum (great views) and the Hotel Cavtat
which is always popular with returning Brits. The
owners had superbly upgraded the place since my
last visit with a stylish new restaurant, new rooms
and an extended seafront cafe. I grabbed my book
and headed for a seat by the water. I thought about
how sometimes, things are not quite what one
expects in Croatia. Indeed, they are often 20 times
better.
SPLIT, CROATIA
46

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Contact us to book your holiday to Croatia. Nathan, Kirsty, Nicola and Oliver have all
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BEAUTIFUL CAVTAT
47

F E AT U R E
Racing to the top
MIDLANDS COMPANY SYMDECK IS LEADING THE WAY WITH A NEW INNOVATION IN MOTORSPORTS
GAMING - AND YOU COULD WIN A SIMULATOR EXPERIENCE AT THEIR ALREWAS SHOWROOM
SIMON LEVESLEY AT
SILVERSTONE
Like many of life’s greatest ideas, the inspiration for
Mike Johns and Simon Levesley’s innovative gaming
race simulator came from a chat in the local pub.
Both self-confessed petrolheads, Mike and
Simon have more than 50 years of new product
development and manufacturing experience. While
discussing the merits of gaming simulators, the duo
identified a gap in the market for a motion simulator
that would be compatible with Xbox and Playstation
consoles - more sophisticated and immersive than
standard static simulators and more affordable than
the current PC-based motion rigs on the market
which will set gamers back upwards of £10,000.
“I had a static simulator set up at home, just a
cockpit with a racing seat on it, sat on the floor with
a TV screen and an Xbox,” explains Mike. “When
Simon came round for a drink at Christmas three
years ago I showed him my setup and thought
nothing more of it.”
But Simon, who runs a product design consultancy,
had seen potential to create a new kind of gaming
simulator. Just weeks later, he had designed and built
a wooden prototype on castors, placed a seat on top
of it and, with a simple pulley system, demonstrated
a basic motion platform.
When Mike, who had spent 30 years in corporate
design and manufacturing, was made redundant
two years ago after the design and manufacturing
operation that he managed was outsourced to China,
he found that he had little appetite to jump back into
another corporate role.
“That was when I asked Simon if he wanted to do
something with the prototype idea we’d created,”
says Mike. “For the past two years we’ve been
developing that initial concept into a productionready
concept, which is now about to launch.”
The result of that further prototype development is
the Symdeck Motion Simulator, a domestic gaming
motion platform which replicates the acceleration
and braking forces experienced in real life racing car
driving situations via the forward and rearward travel
of the platform.
The platform has been designed as a ‘plug and play’
addition to existing static gaming seat cockpits and
will operate independently from gaming software,
making it compatible with Sony Playstation and
48

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Microsoft Xbox consoles as well as PC.
Mike and Simon have also designed their own static
cockpit and combined this with the motion platform
to create the RS Deck, an ‘off-the-shelf ’ fully
integrated motion simulator for customers wanting to
buy a complete solution.
“There are lots of off-the-shelf cockpits so if people
already have a static cockpit they only need to buy
the motion platform,” says Mike.
“Our own cockpit, though, has a lot more
adjustability and a better quality racing seat, plus
we’ve integrated a curved screen into the unit to
create a much more immersive experience.
“Most motion simulators pivot on a single point,
which is more suited to flight simulators because
it mimics the movement of an aeroplane or a
helicopter. A car doesn’t move like that, and the
motion in our simulator is much more representative
of what you’d feel in a performance car. You get that
shove in the back when you accelerate, and it’s trying
to tip you out under braking.
“One of the things we’ve recently added is a
racing harness which straps over your shoulders
and tensions under braking, so it gives you a tug
on the shoulders to add another dimension to the
experience. We’ve also added two fans by the screen
which come on when you press the accelerator so
you get a blast of air. It’s not just a 3D, it’s a 4D
experience.
Aiming their simulator at the motorsports and racing
enthusiast market, rather than purely at gamers,
Mike and Simon have demonstrated Symdeck at
events including Autosport International, Race
Retro and the NEC’s Classic Motor Show, to much
enthusiasm from showgoers.
“It’s been great to demonstrate our products and
get some face-to-face feedback from
potential customers,” says Mike.
“Our simulators aren’t inexpensive
at around £3-4,000, but the only
other competitive motion simulators
on the market are driven by PCs
rather that Xbox or Playstation
consoles so that’s our USP. You don’t
need a £10,000 computer to drive
the software; our unit is ‘plug and
play’, it’s simple, it’s reliable and it’s
affordable in the scheme of things. It’s
also quite compact compared to other
simulators.
Symdeck are also part of the Made
In Britain scheme, choosing local
suppliers as far as possible.
“All of our suppliers are regional
suppliers, with many of our parts
sourced locally - a lot of our parts are
bespoke so we have them purposebuilt
for us,” says Mike. “I’ve got a passion to keep
manufacture in the UK so we’re not importing cheap
parts from China.
“We assemble all of the products ourselves here
too; we’ve done all of the design, we put everything
together and we will be going out to commission and
set up in customers’ homes.”
Although Symdeck is new to the market, Mike and
Simon are continually testing new ideas to add extra
dimensions to the experience.
“We’ve still got loads of ideas, so we’re also setting up
a technical development simulator where we can test
things out here,” says Mike.
Gaming enthusiasts are also invited to the Alrewas
showroom to test drive the Symdeck simulators for
themselves and can hire the simulators for gaming
experiences.
For more information visit www.symdeck.com
SYMDECK’S MIKE JOHNS
50

The Competition
J’AIME HAS TEAMED UP WITH SYMDECK TO OFFER READERS THE CHANCE TO WIN A GAMING
SIMULATOR EXPERIENCE AT THEIR ALREWAS SHOWROOM WORTH £80. THREE LUCKY
WINNERS WILL EACH BE ABLE TO TAKE A FRIEND ALONG TO ENJOY AN HOUR ON SYMDECK’S
UNIQUE RACING SIMULATORS.
FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THIS EXCITING PRIZE, SIMPLY ANSWER THE
FOLLOWING QUESTION:
WHERE IS SYMDECK’S SHOWROOM BASED?
Send your answer, along with your name, address and telephone number, by email to competitions@jaimemagazine.com with Symdeck
Experience competition as the email subject. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday, May 25, and our winner will be notified by
Wednesday, May 30. No cash alternative is available. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.jaimemagazine.com for further details.
SYMDECK DEMONSTRATED
THEIR RANGE OF SIMULATORS
AT A NUMBER OF
MOTORSPORTS SHOWS
51

LO CA L A R E A
What’s On Local
YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST OF WHAT’S ON IN AND AROUND
SUTTON COLDFIELD, LICHFIELD, WALSALL AND BEYOND
WHAT: Showaddywaddy
WHERE: Sutton Coldfield
Town Hall
WHEN: May 4
Some 45 years after forming
in Leicester, Showaddywaddy
are on tour in Sutton Coldfield
this month for a show at the Town Hall. Famed for their
coordinated dance moves, colourful suits and catchy
50s and 60s rock and roll songs, the band are regularly
described as the ‘hardest working band in the UK’.
Original members Romeo Challenger and Rod Deas
lead the six-piece line up, which is managed by another
original member, Dave Bartram.
Their appearance on TV’s New Faces’ All-Winners
Final in December 1973 led to a flurry of record deal
offers. Their first single, Hey Rock and Roll, on the Bell
Records label reached number two in the UK charts in
April 1974, followed by a further 22 chart hits and an
incredible 209 weeks in the UK singles chart. Tickets,
priced at £25 and £27 are available from the Town
Hall’s Box office on 0121 296 9543 or online at
www.townhallsuttoncoldfield.co.uk
WHAT:
Drive-In movies
WHERE:
Beacon Park, Lichfield
WHEN:
May 12 and 19
Drive-in movie nights return to
Lichfield this month with two cinema classics showing
on Beacon Park’s giant inflatable screen.
First up is cult British comedy, The Italian Job, on
May 12, followed by Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey
having the time of their lives in Dirty Dancing on May
19. Simply tune in your car radio to hear the soundtrack
and remember to leave plenty of room for movie meals
and cinema snacks. There will also be a reserved area in
front of the cars for on foot ticket holders to bring along
chairs and blankets to enjoy the film outside.
Entry is by pre-booked ticket only; tickets cost £25
per car with a maximum of four people, £8 on foot
including headset hire, or £5 on foot without headset
hire. Headsets also require a £15 refundable deposit.
For more information call 01543 308867 or visit www.
lichfieldhistoricparks.co.uk
WHAT: Walk About Festival
WHERE: Around Sutton Coldfield
WHEN: May 26 to June 3
Step out with the Sutton Coldfield Ramblers
as part of the nationwide Walk About Festival
this summer to discover the best of our
area, and uncover the hidden gems on your
doorstep.
Tony Le Feuvre, of the Sutton Coldfield
Ramblers, said: “Anyone who loves walking
will know it’s the best way to discover the
world around you – it could be an amazing
secret view, a quirky old building tucked down
a side-street, or simply a fantastic new walking route. We
know lots of great spots and want to share them with
others.”
Sutton Coldfield Ramblers are running several walks
throughout the festival including: May 27 - a walk around
the Warwickshire countryside to discover the hidden gem
of John Wesley’s tree; May 31 - a two-mile family walk
around Sutton Park; June 3 - a ten-mile walk around the
Leicestershire countryside to discover Bruntingthorpe
airfield; and also June 3 - a walk through the Newhall
Valley, a green corridor through Sutton Coldfield. For
more details call Tony Le Feuvre on 0121 354 7759 or
visit www.suttoncoldfieldramblers.co.uk
52

......
......
........................................
STEAK
& Date night
........................................
MONDAYS 5-9pm
Two Staffordshire Steaks &
a Bottle of Pom’s Wine
£35
View Menus
online
pomskitchen.uk
Book a
table
01543 250 085
20-22 Bird Street, Lichfield,
Staffordshire WS13 6PR
EMAIL: INFO@POMSKITCHEN.UK
Would you like
your restaurant or
forthcoming event
featured in J’aime?
CONTACT JAN ASHLEY ON 07388 335931
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匀 琀 愀 昀 昀 漀 爀 搀 猀 栀 椀 爀 攀 圀 匀 㐀 㤀 儀 刀
㔀 㐀 アパート 㐀 㠀 㤀 㐀 㠀
眀 眀 眀 ⸀ 愀 氀 氀 攀 渀 戀 爀 漀 眀 渀 樀 攀 眀 攀 氀 氀 攀 爀 礀 ⸀ 挀 漀 ⸀ 甀 欀
昀 椀 琀

WHAT: Consequences of War
WHERE: Lichfield Cathedral
WHEN: Until June 24
A poignant, moving and revealing free exhibition
which draws attention to the effect of World War One,
Consequences of War will explore the immediate
aftermath of the conflict and the quest and failure of the
search for peace over the subsequent century.
The exhibition combines reflections of conflict from a
local and national perspective and involves the work of
some of Britain’s most significant post-war artists, which
will question our notions of peace and war. Artists whose
work will be on display include Henry Moore, Paul Nash,
Graham Sutherland and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska.
Other exhibits will include original work by the
Cathedral’s Artist in Residence Peter Walker, items from
the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, Military Valour
awards and trench art.
To mark this special exhibition, there will also be a series
of lectures throughout May on the consequences of World
War One on music, art, society and religion. On May
2, Dr Philip Lancaster will discuss music in the wake of
World War One in his lecture, Modes of War; on May 16
Dr Hannah Higham. curator of Henry Moore Collections
and Exhibitions at the Henry Moore Foundation in
Hertfordshire, talks about Henry Moore’s art during the
transitional post-war period; on May 22, Professor Gary
Sheffield looks at the social consequences of the First
World War; and rounding off the series on May 30 is
Lichfield’s Very Reverend Adrian Dorber with Conflict
and Faith: the impact of the First World War.
Tickets are £5 to each lecture, or a season pass is £15, and
are available online or at The Shop at No. 9, The Close.
For more details visit www.lichfield-cathedral.org
54

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Would you like your business to be seen by
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J’AIME IS FREELY DISTRIBUTED TO
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LO CA L A R E A
What’s
Competition
on Second City
A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST
EVENTS TO COME TO BIRMINGHAM THIS MONTH
WHAT: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
WHERE: Arena Birmingham
WHEN: May 1
Noel Gallagher’s
High Flying
Birds soar into
the slipstream of
exhilarating new
album, Who Built
The Moon?,
for a return to
Birmingham this month as part of their UK and
Ireland arena tour.
The keenly anticipated follow-up to the platinumselling
Chasing Yesterday, Noel Gallagher’s High
Flying Birds’ third album Who Built The Moon?
Was released in November to critical acclaim. While
flowing from the same, molten core of melody,
songwriting craft and towering self-belief, the album
is poised between experimental and a jukebox of
ageless influence following a bracing, two-year
creative collaboration with renowned producer, DJ
and composer, David Holmes. For more details visit
www.arenabham.co.uk
WHAT: A Matter of Life and Death
WHERE: Various locations citywide
WHEN: May 10 to 26
A Birmingham arts and culture
festival is tackling the taboos of
death and dying with a programme
of theatre, film, food, art and crafts,
exhibitions, tours and discussion. A Matter of Life and
Death, from May 10 to 26, is aiming to encourage open
and honest conversation about death and dying through
a variety of events aimed at all ages.
Organised by BrumYODO, a diverse community
collective featuring health professionals, undertakers,
artists, hospice staff and lawyers, it takes in a range of
venues including the Electric Cinema, The Coffin Works,
Library of Birmingham, Birmingham Museum and Art
Gallery, Ort Gallery and the John Lewis Community
Hub. Kicking off the festival is Annabel de Vetten of
Conjurer’s Kitchen with a Movie Taste-Along to the cult
horror Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp. Audiences
will be biting into delicious treats inspired by the Tim
Burton film.
For full details of all the A Matter of Life and Death
events and tickets see www.brumyodo.org.uk
WHAT: ART
WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome
WHEN: May 21 to 26
ART is a phenomenon and one of the most successful
plays ever. Having opened in 1996, it took both the
West End and Broadway by storm, won Olivier, Tony,
Moliere and every other major theatre award, and has
been packing in audiences worldwide for more than
20 years.
When Serge spends an extortionate amount of money
on an all white modernist painting, his close friends
Marc and Yvan are baffled. But does their violent
reactions to this provocative canvas mirror more
dangerous antagonisms towards each other? Yasmina
Reza’s dazzling study of friendship, prejudice and
tolerance is a masterpiece.
The all-star cast features Nigel Havers, Olivier Awardwinning
Denis Lawson and Stephen Tompkinson. For
more details visit
www.birminghamhippodrome.com
56

WHAT:
Legally Blonde the Musical
WHERE:
New Alexandra Theatre
WHEN:
May 21 to 26
Legally Blonde the Musical
brings its brand new UK tour
to Birmingham this month,
starring Lucie Jones as Elle
Woods opposite Rita Simons
as Paulette and Bill Ward as Professor Callahan.
The smash hit Broadway and West End Musical based
on the best loved movie follows beautiful and popular
sorority sister Elle Woods who loves to be pampered
and is passionate about pink. When she is dumped
by her boyfriend Warner Huntingdon III for a more
serious girlfriend she puts down the credit cards and
picks up the books. Packing up her trusty pooch,
Bruiser, she bags herself a place at the prestigious
Harvard Law School to try and win him back. With
the support of her new friends she learns that you can
be both smart and fashionable. For more details visit
www.atgtickets.com/birmingham
WHAT:
Our Country’s Good
WHERE:
Birmingham REP
WHEN:
May 23 to June 2
In 1787, ships each
with over 700 convicts on board set sail on an eight
month voyage. When they arrive in Australia, their
survival is by no means certain: supplies are running
out, the convicts are stealing food or trying to escape
and the guards are threatening mutiny.
Our Country’s Good tells the extraordinary true
story of a group of convicts and a young officer
who rehearse and perform a play – Australia’s first
theatrical production. With opposition from the
officers and a leading lady who may be hanged, the
odds are stacked against them.
Our Country’s Good is a touring production made
in co-production with Ramps on the Moon, and
the production features the creative use of audio
description, signing, and captions. For more details
visit www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
WHAT:
A Change
is Gonna
Come
WHERE:
Birmingham
Town Hall
WHEN:
May 29
Four of the most gifted soul, jazz and rap artists
explore the power of protest songs in this not-to-bemissed
collaboration. Leading an incredible sextet are
supremely talented queens of their trade: the soulful
Carleen Anderson, jazz virtuosos Nikki Yeoh and
Nubya Garcia, and Mercury Prize-winning rapper
Speech Debelle.
On stage together for the first time, they will perform
unique interpretations of iconic songs from the time of
the civil rights through to today. This special concert
also features powerful new compositions by Anderson
and Yeoh highlighting the ongoing fight for equal
human rights. For more details visit www.thsh.co.uk
WHAT: Stomp
WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome
WHEN: May 29 to June 2
The unstoppable smash-hit is back for one week only
and it’s fresher, faster and funnier than ever! Stomp
takes familiar objects like newspapers, bins, plastic
bags and even the kitchen sink and uses them to create
a universal language of rhythm and movement that’s
playful, thrilling and exploding with energy.
From its humble beginnings in Brighton in 1991,
Stomp has grown into a truly global phenomenon that
will set your toes tapping and your pulse racing. Stomp
combines dance, comedy and music into an experience
like no other – don’t miss it! For more details visit
www.birminghamhipodrome.com
GET INVOLVED: Have you got a local event
you’d like to promote? Then we’d love to hear
from you. From charity nights to local theatre
productions and more, send details to editor@
jaimemagazine.com and you could see your
event on these pages.
57

FA S H I O N
Jean genius
A PERENNIAL WARDROBE FAVOURITE, THERE’S A DENIM OUT THERE FOR EVERYONE.
AND THIS SEASON’S STYLES GO BEYOND JEANS TO BRING A DENIM TWIST TO ALL AREAS
OF YOUR WARDROBE, SAYS AMY NORBURY
DENIM never really goes out of fashion. Genderless and versatile,
it’s safe to say denim is a fabric which suits everyone, regardless of
size, shape and age, and we’ve all got at least some denim pieces
lurking in our wardrobes.
With that said, there’s definitely a swathe of trends which come and
go, so make sure you look beyond the jeans which are already in
your drawer and stay up to date with what’s fresh for the new season.
After last year’s flirtation with ‘mom’ jeans, SS18 sees skinnies back
as the silhouette of choice, with a particular emphasis on highwaisted
styles. A timeless classic, skinny jeans are actually one of the
most easy--to-wear and flattering cuts, with high-waisted versions
particularly good at accentuating your waist and sculpting your midsection.
If you’re after something a bit different, look out for embellishments,
lace trims and floral fabric patches create a sweet summer vibe,
while zip detail and scatterings of metal studs, pearls or even sequins
seriously up the glam factor.
But to get to the heart of this season’s denim, you need to look
beyond the jeans and embrace the acid wash and indigo in all areas
of your wardrobe.
Like the perfect pair of jeans, a great denim dress works for day or
night, depending on how you accessorise it. A simple shirt dress is a
real transitional hero piece; team with fringed ankle boots on chillier
days or with suede sandals for summer style.
If you want a change from your jeans, dungarees are a great
summer style staple; layer with a crisp white shirt or blouse for
smart style, or team with a simple T-shirt or vest for casual cool.
Cut-off dungarees and dungaree dresses are also versatile wardrobe
additions.
Last summer was all about distressed, oversized acid wash denim
jackets, and while fashion still favours a vintage vibe, now it’s about
cropped styles. For something slightly more dressy, a neat collarless
denim jacket with pocket detailing is the casual equivalent of a
boucle blazer and is the ideal cover-up for a floaty boho maxi.
When it comes to colour, pretty much anything goes. Classic indigo
and black are perfect for creating a smarter look, particularly in
tailored and clean-cut styles. Paler washes are ideal as we head into
the summer months, or even experiment with white and pastel
versions of your favourite styles to inject a fresh vibe into your denim
collection.
PRAIRIE DRESS, £28,
AND JACKET, £36,
DOROTHY PERKINS
58

£230
£60
LEANNE CHAMBRAY
DRESS, FATFACE
KSUBI PINAFORE
DRESS, HARVEY
NICHOLS
RUFFLE DENIM
JACKET, LABEL LAB AT
HOUSE OF FRASER
£1,230
£49.50
SEE BY CHLOE
DARK BLUE DENIM
ESPADRILLE WEDGE
SANDALS, HARVEY
NICHOLS
£170
BALMAIN BLUE HIGH
RISE SKINNY JEANS,
HARVEY NICHOLS
£39
DEE DENIM TRAINER,
WHITE STUFF
£45
POPPER DETAIL TEE,
LABEL LAB AT HOUSE
OF FRASER
HUSH DENIM
DRESS, £79.50,
OLIVER BONAS
DISTRACTION
DENIM DRESS,
£69.50, OLIVER
BONAS
DENIM JACKET, £140,
BETTY BARCLAY

FA S H I O N
Best foot forward
JILL HARTLEY, CO-OWNER AND DIRECTOR OF NERO E BIANCO EXCLUSIVE FASHION AND
BRIDAL BOUTIQUE AT BARTON MARINA, SAYS IT’S TIME TO THINK ABOUT SUMMER FOOTWEARE
We’ve all had enough of winter boots and if the weather forecast is to be noted, then we are looking forward to
a sunny May and we need to get our feet into something lighter and brighter. This season the big designers have
gone all out in metallic and monochrome.
The great thing about footwear is it can really change a look, bring old outfits back to life and we can reinvent
ourselves with a pair of heels or a trendy trainer.
Often with a fashionable shoe there is a compromise on comfort; so many times I’ve heard the saying ‘car to
restaurant only shoes’ - which I think most women can relate to!
Personally, I adore shoes and have suffered in the past for the sake of fashion or to match an outfit. So, I decided
to take on an important mission and to find footwear that has comfort and fashion at the same time? Sounds
reasonable to me!
Here we go with the first of my finds...
Fringe benefits
These two are beautiful soft Italian leather with the up-to-date metallic look
and tassel detail - so stylish.
This cute little shoe has a
kitten heel and offers the
elegance of a stiletto without
the pain, the shape of this
shoe is idea for an average to
slim foot and is high enough
at the front to pass over any
lumps and bumps.
The difference here
is the square toe gives
room for an average
to wider foot and a
block heel is extremely
comfortable to wear.
Gladiators ready
Now this is a pair of sandals! Again, soft
Italian leather with the on-trend metallic;
here we see the silver, gold and rose gold
colours work so well together. The block
heel supports the foot so although there is
height, there is comfort, and the softness
of the leather moulds around the foot so
elegantly and offers support to the foot
and ankle. This is our elegant gladiator
sandal that you can wear with any outfit
to give the wow factor.
60

www.neroebianco.co.uk
Nero e Bianco Exclusive Fashion & Bridal
Barton Marina Burton upon Trent DE13 8AS
01283 346704

Peep show
This lovely peep toe shoe is again made from Italian
leather and has insole comfort. The shape of the shoe
envelopes the foot and the hidden platform reduces
the heel height so there is still the elegance but with the
comfort factor.
This leather is iridescent and what is amazing is whatever
colour you wear it will reflect that colour as the light
catches the shoe. So essentially you can wear this shoe with
absolutely any colour and it will work.
Winning wedge
Now every girl needs a wedge sandal for summer. This stylish
wedge is perfect for comfort and style. The criss-cross holds the
foot well and this style has a cushioned insole. We love this sandal
for summer days and nights, dress up with a floaty dress or white
skinnies and a snazzy top and wear casually with shorts and T-shirt.
So versatile, Italian leather with a little bit of sparkle – wonderful!
Casual style
Here we go with our favourite contemporary ‘trainer’ shoe with a
slight hidden wedge and zip sides so once you have laced for fit, the zip
can be used easily for putting on and taking off. The Italian leather is
cleverly structured to hold and support the foot well, so it is functionable,
comfortable and super stylish. Don’t just wear this shoe for walks in the
park; team up with a long or midi dress for a really cool look.
Mono magic
Well heeled
We had to find a stiletto in this mission for style and comfort! Some of
you ladies will always, always, go for a stiletto to feel sophisticated, so
here is a stiletto with comfort insole and moulded to encapsulate the
foot for maximum support. We have gone with the skin monochrome
with a sheen, so again great leather, style and totally on-trend.
Nero e Bianco is Italian for black and white, so we had to have
a signature summer sandal. Here it is, the black and white
block heel sandal with a personality! This is such an incredible
Italian leather sandal with comfort that makes a statement and
can be worn at any age. It’s fun and funky, just what we need
after the long winter.
Enjoy you summer footwear ladies – comfortably!
62

B E AU T Y
Dare to bare!
ONE OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT TRENDS FROM THE SS18 CATWALKS WAS NOT THE COLOUR PALETTES
OR PRINTS; INSTEAD IT WAS THE FACT THAT SOME DESIGNERS OPTED FOR A COMPLETE NO MAKEUP LOOK
TO SHOWCASE THEIR COLLECTIONS. LANVIN, RODARTE, ALEXANDER WANG AND VICTORIA BECKHAM
PLUMPED FOR THE SERIOUSLY MINIMAL, CONFIRMING HEALTHY LOOKING SKIN IS AS BIG A TREND AS
STATEMENT MAKEUP. THIS SPRING YOU CAN PROVE LESS REALLY IS MORE… JUST MAKE SURE YOUR
COMPLEXION IS UP TO THE JOB! WE ASKED LISA PIDDINGTON, FROM HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM,
TO PICK THIS SEASON’S SKINCARE SAVIOURS TO LEAVE YOU LOOKING NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL.
A great multi-tasker, Pestle &
Mortar’s Pure Hyaluronic
Acid Serum (£36) targets
fine lines, dullness and
dehydration restoring a
healthy glow, plumpness
and radiance.
The Grande
Dame of skincare,
La Mer’s The
Concentrate
(£270) helps renew
damaged skin while
special revitalising
ingredients help
strengthen and
protect.
The must-have Pixi Glow Tonic
(£10) works to exfoliate, smooth
and brighten the complexion for a
healthy glow. Alcohol-free, it’s gentle
on all skin types.
Magnify the beauty
of your eyes with
Estée Lauder’s
Advanced Night
Repair Eye
Concentrate
Matrix,
(£49). This
ultra-nourishing,
strengthening
formula helps
reduce the appearance of fine
lines, puffiness and dark circles.
Previse’s Ozone Defence
Nutrify Serum (£49) is infused
with vitamins B5 and hyaluronic
acid to bind moisture to the skin
and lock-out airborne pollutants,
while vitamins B3 and C help fight
oxidative damage.
NARS’ Instant Line &
Pore Perfector (£20) uses
microspheres and hyaluronic
acid to plump and smooth
wrinkles and reduce the size
of pores, leaving the surface
of the skin soft and even.
ALL PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE BEAUTY HALL AT HARVEY
NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM AND ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM
63

I N T H E N E W S
Say ‘I Do’ to dance
Ever sat watching the pros and celebrities on Strictly
Come Dancing and wishes you could move as
effortlessly and stylishly on the dancefloor? One
Midlands business is making it their mission to help
everyone find their dancing feet.
Run by dance teacher Laura Evans, I Do Dances
aims to make partner dancing easy. Laura provides
one-to-one tuition in your own home. Whether you
want to make your first wedding dance that little bit
extra special or whether you want your two left feet
working together, Laura’s personalised home lessons
will get you whirling round that dance floor together.
Laura says: “I found dance at a low point in my life
and without it I wouldn’t be where I am today. I love
passing my knowledge onto others and seeing their
faces light up when they learn something new. It’s not
just a job for me dancing is my hobby, my passion
and my life.”
Laura has more than 10 years’ dance experience
and is a fully qualified instructor. She specialises in
modern jive, a dance style derived from swing,
lindy hop, rock and roll, salsa and others. The
main innovation with modern jive is simplifying
the footwork, making it the perfect style for
dancers of any ability, from complete novice to
dancefloor expert. Laura has won many modern jive
competitions including the world championships at
the world-famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
Whether it’s a wedding, birthday party or special
events, or you just want some help on your the
dancefloor moves, Laura can help. For more
information call 07904 990114 or visit
www.idodances.co.uk
A charity boost from Lichfield auctioneer
Auctioneer Richard Winterton has handed over a
£1,000 cheque to the We Love Lichfield fund.
The money has come from the family firm
auctioning off items donated to charity by customers.
Mr Winterton invited We Love Lichfield patron
Simon Price to his salerooms at the Lichfield
Auction House, Fradley Park, in April to make the
presentation. The Bargain Hunt regular said he was
delighted to have had We Love Lichfield as one of
the auction house’s chosen charities for the past year.
“It’s a real privilege to be able to present £1,000 to
such an important fund which helps so many small
local clubs and projects,” said Mr Winterton. “The
work Simon does with his colleagues is outstanding
and we all wish it continued success.”
We Love Lichfield is a local fund providing small
grants to a wide range of projects across Lichfield
district. All donations are invested through a
permanent endowment fund by registered charity
The Community Foundation For Staffordshire. We
Love Lichfield considers all applications from local
groups and makes presentations to the organisations
chosen twice a year.
Richard Winterton Auctioneers is offering free
valuations at the Stone House Hotel in Stone on
Wednesday, May 9, 10am-2pm. Free valuations also
take place from 9.30am-4pm every Tuesday at The
Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley
Park WS13 8NF. Telephone 01543 251081 or
email lichfield@richardwinterton.co.uk.
The next Decorative and Design Sale is on July 11.
Final entries are being invited until Tuesday, June 19.
64

Life in the fast lane
M OTO R S
THIS MONTH J’AIME’S MOTORING CORRESPONDENT AND RESIDENT RACING
DRIVER MARTIN PLOWMAN GOES FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SIGHT
THE TEAM HAS THREE CUSTOM-
BUILT DUAL-CONTROL CARS
After more than 20 years in the motorsport industry
I have pretty much seen it all and am not easily
impressed, but this week I was introduced to a guy
and an organisation that blew me away.
The guy in question is a gentleman called Mike
Newman. Mike is a professional driver and has
appeared in several adverts for major car companies
around the world. In 2011 he drove a modified
Nissan-GTR at more than 200mph. What makes
his achievement so impressive is that Mike was born
blind.
Mike is a trailblazer in the blind community and has
been breaking down physical barriers ever since he
first rode an Aprilla Falco 1000c motorbike at more
than 89mph back in 2001! He has since switched his
attention to four wheels, smashing multiple landspeed
records and eventually becoming the first blind
person to break the 200mph barrier in 2014.
Mike’s story resonated a lot with me. Growing up
he always dreamt of becoming a racing driver,
much in the same way I spent my whole childhood
dreaming of racing. Fate would have it that Mike’s
blindness presented a massive physical barrier to him
achieving that goal, but Mike’s story is one of sheer
determination against impossible odds.
What he has achieved in the last 15 years is nothing
short of awe-inspiring and whether he intended to
be or not he has become a hero and a pioneer for
the blind and disabled community as a whole. The
next stage in Mike’s adventure was to find a way to
give back and create opportunities for the blind and
disabled to do what they never thought was possible.
In 2012 Mike founded a charity called Speed of
Sight alongside John Galloway. An organisation
65

committed to the opportunity for all, Speed of Sight
hosts driving experience days for adults and children
with disabilities and their families and friends,
inspiring self-confidence, social interaction, physical
and mental wellbeing throughout the UK.
When Mike questions the many blind or disabled
people he meets during speaking and sponsor events
about what they would love to do if they were able
to, the ability to drive a car is always near top of the
list.
To drive a car is a luxury that I guarantee most of us
take for granted, but take that privilege away and you
lose much; much more than just the ability to drive.
For starters, you lose freedom and independence
to travel, to meet people or do things whenever,
wherever you want. That feeling of Isolation from
the general community has some pretty serious
knock-on effects such as low self-esteem, depression
and anxiety which of course can spiral out of control
if you don’t have a strong support system around
you.
Speed Of Sight’s mission is to create
opportunities for people with any
disability to drive. The team currently
has three custom-built dual-control
cars - two race cars and one offroad
buggy. The cars, named after
Mike’s guide dogs, are specially
designed with dual controls and
twin steering wheels. An instructor
will always sit alongside the driver,
but essentially the driver is fully in
control at all times and the instructor
only intervenes to help steer back
on course if needed.
The remarkable thing
about the Speed of Sight
experience is that it is
built on communication
and trust on a much
deeper level. The
instructor needs to have
trust in the driver to listen
to instructions and of
course the driver needs to
have complete faith in the
instructions given to him!
Speed of Sight
experience days take
place countrywide at
racing circuits, off road
tracks or any venue with
a large enough car park
or area where a circuit can be created. In addition
to their own program, I am looking into ways that
Velocity Track Days, the company I co-own, can
help boost their fundraising efforts, so watch this
space!
The great work that Speed of Sight does would not
be possible without the generosity of volunteers
giving their time, sponsors pitching in free products
or corporations giving money to keep their wheels
in motion. If you know someone who could benefit
from an experience or if you want to help out in
any way please check out www.SpeedofSight.org for
more information.
A Speed of Sight experience has helped change
hundreds of lives already. They give people the
chance to dream, expose their senses to the sound
of a roaring engine and smell of burning rubber,
and for 15 whole minutes, a sense of a life without
limitations.
SPEED OF SIGHT’S MISSION IS
TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO DRIVE
MIKE NEWMAN FOUNDED
CHARITY SPEED OF SIGHT
66

TRACK DAYS
REDEFINED
Velocity is a new breed of track day company offering the chance to race real racing cars on the UK’s finest
circuits, tutored by Le Mans Winner Martin Plowman and BTCC and Emmerdale Star Kelvin Fletcher.
There’s no better way to engage with clients or reward loyal teams. Choose from one of our great packages
or let us build you a bespoke day.
GET IN TOUCH TODAY AND LET US BUILD
THE PERFECT EXPERIENCE
www.velocitytrackdays.co.uk 0115 888 3288 info@velocitytrackdays.co.uk